It’s hard to get used to calling Mad Dog Marko — the once fearsome romper-stomper of Red Bull Racing — plain old Dr. Helmut Marko. But since he hung up his Red Bull wings, we’ve had to retire the “Mad Dog” moniker.
Sure, he’ll still say outrageous things from time to time, but he’s now outside the F1 circus. And admittedly, we do miss the glory days of Mad Dog Marko.
Still, he’s never short of interview requests, and he recently shared his latest thoughts on the saga surrounding the 2026 F1 race starts and the associated safety concerns under the new regulations.
The start of the Australian Grand Prix could be more dramatic than usual — and not in a thrilling way. Safety concerns have emerged with the new F1 power units, which now run a 50/50 split of electrical and thermal energy. Drivers need to charge up their turbos to keep revs high for a strong launch.
Fail to do so, and you’re a sitting duck as others blast past, prompting fears of chaos off the line. Oscar Piastri called it a “recipe for disaster,” while Helmut Marko suggested rolling starts might be the only safe workaround if the problem isn’t solved.
During a recent media interview, Dr Helmut Marko expressed his thoughts:
“I only saw the practice starts, and half the cars didn’t get going. That’s dangerous because, for example, the driver in 22nd place can’t see if someone in fourth or sixth has stopped. And these cars have fantastic acceleration.”
“I hope they can get that under control with the programming. If necessary, Formula 1 will need rolling starts for the first few races.”
“Then asked whether the regulations would allow for a rolling start in normal weather conditions, Marko replied, “When it comes to safety, there’s no other option.”
Some teams, however, may have cracked the code. Ferrari reportedly developed a smaller turbo, helping their engines reach optimal performance quicker.
They also unveiled a radical new rear wing that seems to operate opposite to the traditional DRS system, giving Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton an extra 10 kph on the straights.
In short: F1’s new hybrid era promises more speed, more tech, and potentially more mayhem — especially when the lights go out.
